When You’re Stuck In A Rut

I’m not gonna lie: I’m stuck in a rut.

But I know I can get out. That’s why I’m writing this. I’m a firm believer in writing’s therapeutic benefits  (as well as its ability to frustrate!). Hopefully, writing this post will help me and other recent grads stuck in a rut get out of a rut (i.e. GET A REAL CAREER JOB!).

It’s been eight months since I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations, and I still do not have a full-time job in my field. I work part-time (20-35 hours) as an assistant manager at a women’s clothing store called maurices. I love that I’ve been able to apply my PR skills at my job (through a fashion show and donation drive), but that is just not enough. I can’t stay stuck in this rut much longer, or I won’t be living to my full potential.

Here’s a list of things I know I need to do to get myself out of this rut. Hopefully this list will be helpful for others in a situation similar to mine.

• Get a routine going again. Most of my college days were spent waking up at 6 a.m. to get myself to the gym by 6:30. Sounds crazy, right? I guess I sort of was… I forced myself to work out in the morning because I knew I wouldn’t do it after class (especially since the Rec Center got more crowded than a frat party by 4 p.m.).  Working out in the morning– every morning– kick-started my day. Having a routine in place helped balance my health and my studies. Although I am still working out regularly, I do not have a consistent work and exercise schedule at all.  I need to work harder on getting this back into place.
• Schedule computer time. I know this one is important for me because it falls into re-establishing my routine. As a a college student, I spent much more time on the computer than I do now (however, I now have an iPhone). Always being on the computer made keeping up with social media much more convenient. I still try my best to keep up, but one area I’m slacking in is reading blogs and job-searching/job-preparing online. Incorporating computer time is very important to me and my future as I re-establish my daily routine.
• Volunteer or do an…. (gasp!)…. unpaid internship. I thought my days of unpaid internships were over. Well, they are as of right now, and I’d like to keep it that way. However, if making it in my career means getting more experience at (just about) any cost, I’ll do it. Just a few hours a week of volunteering my time and skills to nonprofit or other organization will not only benefit my community, but also help keep my skills updated and my portfolio padded.
• Update the portfolio. During my senior year, I made it a good habit to consistantly add to my portfolio. Although I have created numerous PR work samples since I’ve graduated, I’ve slacked on physically adding them to my portfolio. I’ll admit that this is most likely because I don’t have several interviews lined up like I used to back in the spring. I need to just sit down and get to work. I also may just need more outlets to show off my work. Scheduling informational interviews and attending networking events will motivate me to update my portfolio.
• Set a Get-Outta-Here Goal. Goal-setting is a PR basic. If I’m truly a young PR pro, I should be setting more goals! (Shame on me). It’s tempting to just say, “My goal is to live and work in Portland by January 2010,” but it’s not a very realistic goal. Moreover, in order for it to be a goal, I must treat it like a goal and work on achieving it every day.
• The obvious: Keep at it. Yes, job hunting is very frustrating these days. At times, it even seems pointless. The main thing I need to keep in mind is that if one strategy isn’t working, such as applying to jobs only via the Internet, then stop wasting time and try a different strategy. I must also never give up. And I need to get a move-on before I start competing with the graduating class of 2010. Now that’s a scary thought.